Sidi Bouzid: Signing of tripartite agreement as part of operationalisation of ‘Impact’ Fund

Sidi Bouzid: CDC Gestion and CDC Croissance, two funds of the Tunisian "Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations" and economic development companies in the governorates of Sidi Bouzid, Kasserine and Kairouan signed on Monday a tripartite agreement as part of the activation of the "Impact" fund for the creation of projects in the economic development corridor. The agreement, signed during a working session at the headquarters of the Sidi Bouzid governorate, is part of the continuation of the economic development corridor project in the governorates of Kasserine, Sidi Bouzid and Sfax, financed by the World Bank. The latter provides for the financing of the National Road 13 project and the financing and support of projects and micro-enterprises in the regions. Governor of Sidi Bouzid, Abdelhalim Hamdi, stressed that the aim of the economic development corridor project (doubling of the National Road 13) is to reduce the disparities between the regions by developing the infrastructure sector in accordance with the gen eral orientations of the state to achieve a comprehensive and inclusive development to be a suitable ground for the establishment of a sovereign economy. He pointed out that the agreement will ensure equal opportunities to achieve economic growth in the areas through which the economic development corridor passes through the economic development companies. "There will be a follow-up, evaluation and correction of the funding path to ensure the achievement of the goals set," he stressed. For his part, the Governor of Kasserine, Ridha Rokbeni, said that the trend towards supporting the resilience of SMEs is a development option and an economic necessity in the existing process within the regionalisation project aimed at achieving equitable development and reducing disparities between regions. The signing ceremony was attended by the CEO of the CDC, the CEO of Agence Foncière Industrielle, the CEO of the CDC Gestion, the CEO of the CDC Croissance, the directors of the economic development companies and local officials from the governorates of Sidi Bouzid, Kasserine and Kairouan. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse